According to the recently released "EU Blue Book 2007" which provides an overview on EU cooperation activities in Viet Nam, the grants also contain over 493 million USD is non-refundable aid and allows the bloc to retain its place as Viet Nam’s second largest donor of development assistance and the biggest grant provider.

At the launching ceremony of the book in Ha Noi on June 27, Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is currently holding the rotating EU presidency, said: “The continuous increase in development assistance through years shown in the Blue Book is a strong demonstration of the EU’s full commitment to its close partnership with Viet Nam. As Viet Nam’s second largest development partner and its biggest grant provider, the EU will continue to support Viet Nam’s development goals, work with Viet Nam to eradicate poverty and help enhance human development.”

Regarding the pace with which aid and assistance has been disbursed in Viet Nam, Markus Cornano, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Viet Nam, said that the EU is very pleased with the improvements shown in the area from year to year.

Vizi Laszlo, Ambassador of Hungary, which will take control of the EU presidency after Germany, asserted that he would do his utmost to contribute to the development of EU-Viet Nam relationship at large.(VNA)